Teen jailed for high-speed chase in stolen BMW

Peter Hardwick
Reporter
Peter started in 1976 as apprentice typesetter/comp and has 32 years with The Chronicle in three stints (in between working/holidays in UK/Europe, Brisbane and Melbourne). Entered editorial from comp room in 1996.

A 17-YEAR-OLD man who led police on a high-speed pursuit on the Gatton bypass in a stolen BMW sedan has been released from prison on parole.

Joshua Michael Harris, of the Brisbane suburb of Kingston, had spent 78 days in custody since the August 17 incident which Magistrate Damian Carroll found to be a considerable time in an adult prison for a 17-year-old.

Harris had been driving with two teenage passengers on that morning when police clocked the BMW doing 130kmh on the Gatton bypass.

When a police patrol activated lights and siren, the BMW's speed climbed to 171kmh and swerved between cars and overtook vehicles, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.

Noting there were roadworks under way, his driving had posed a serious risk to road workers and other drivers, police prosecutor Senior Constable Christie Mahoney said.

After a short pursuit, Harris stopped the car and ran off up the highway but was soon tackled by police.

He appeared by video link from the prison to plead guilty to unlawfully using the vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle, disobeying the speed limit, failing to stop, driving unlicensed and drug driving.

His solicitor Brad Skuse said it was accepted his client's driving had put other people at risk and conceded a term of imprisonment was within range.

Mr Carroll noted the teenager had only one previous entry on his criminal history.

He sentenced Harris to nine months in jail but, declaring 78 days pre-sentence custody as time served, ordered he be released on parole immediately.

Harris was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence for various lengths of time from three months to two years.